Bath-mat.



W. B. ALLEN.

BATH MAT.

APPLICATION rum) MAY 0, 1910.

1,080,31 5. Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

62%; v k i/ylkn WILLARD E. ALLEN, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

BATH-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1910.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913. Serial No. 559,660.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVinnAnn E. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Mats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bathing appara tus and relates particularly to bath mats for catching and removing the used water when taking sponge baths, shower baths, and the like, where regular bathing facilities a re not provided or available.

Bath mats of the gene 'al type to which the present invention relates, comprise a suitable bottom or body portion and an upstanding marginal rim around said bottom or body portion, together forming a shallow receptacle. Said bath mats also comprise suitable handles for raising and carrying the same, attached to or adjacent to the marginal rims thereof, whereby, as said mats are raised by their handles, the bottoms thereof will sag so as to form relatively deep vessels, into which the contents of said receptacles will settle, thus providing for removing the water without danger of spilling. Also, to provide for conveniently packing and carrying said bath mats, the bottoms or body portions, the rims and the handles thereof are made of suitable flexible material, thus providing for compactly folding the same so that they will occupy a comparatively small space.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mat of this general type, which may be folded into small space or compass, the marginal rim of which comprises reinforcing and supporting strips of substantially nonflexible material.

To this end, a bath mat of my invention comprises the various features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, in which my invention is illustrated-16 igure 1 is a perspective view of a bath mat of my invention extended and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view thereof when raised by its handles, with water therein, for the purpose of removing and emptying the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional elevations thereof on the lines 33 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, substantially similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of mat of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 designates the bottom or body portion of the mat which is made of suitable flexible, impervious material, preferably rubber cloth, having a marginal rim preferably formed by the upturned edges 2 of the body portion of said mat, reinforced and stiffened by snit able rigid strips 3, preferably of galvanized iron, or the like. At the corners of the mat, the edges 2 thereof are interfoldcd and connected, preferably by stitching, to form a tight seam, thus preventing leakage at the corners of the mat. The strips 3 are connected to the flexible rim sections 2 of the mat, as shown, by clamping the upper edges of said rim sections 2 between the main portions of said strips 3 and the overturned edges 4- thereof. Preferably, also, said strips 3 are attached inside of the flexible rim sections 2. In order that said mat may be folded into small space to provide for convenicntly packing and carrying the same, the rigid strips 3 preferably comprise strips forming opposite sides of the rim of said bath mat, which comprise separate sections 3 which are adapted to be folded against the sides of said rim adjacent to the said sections 3, respectively. As shown, two only of the strips 3 are made up of such sections 3 the two remaining sides consisting preferably of integral strips, as the mat is thereby rendered both stronger and stiffer and the construction thereof simplified. Obviously, however, to make the strips 3 of all of the sides of the mat in sections will involve no departure from my invention.

To provide for conveniently lifting and removing the bath mat, as when it is desired to empty the same. said mat is pro vided with suitable handles, consisting, as shown, of cords 5, or the like, attached to and connecting the upper edges of the rim of said mat on different sides thereof, said vcords preferably all converging substantially to the center of the mat and being rigidly connected together, thus providing for grasping all of said cords or handles and for lifting and carrying said mat with one hand. Said handles 5 may, however, be made of any other suitable flexible material. To insure against tipping of the mat in handling, the cords or handles 5 preferably comprise two such cords or handles attached to each of the integral strips 3, one adjacent to each end thereof, and a single cord or handle attached to each section of the other strips 3, preferably adjacent to the ends thereof remote from said integral strips 8. In addition to forming handles for raising and carrying the bath mat, the lengths of the cords 5 are preferably so proportioned that they will support the sides of the rim in upright position, in a familiar manner. If desired, the different cords or handles 5 may all be connected to a central ring 6 of such size that it may be conveniently grasped.

\Vhen desired for use, my improved bath mat is spread out with the rim in raised position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the bath is completed, and it is desired to empty the same, said mat is raised by grasping the ring 6, whereupon the weight of the water will cause the body portion or bottom thereof to sag downwardly to form a relatively deep vessel, the rigid rim sections 3 folding inwardly, as shown in Fig.2, while the cords or handles 5 attached thereto operate to prevent sagging of the ends thereof remote from the integral strips 3 on the other side.

As a modification of the preferred form of bath mats shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 1 contemplate using integral reinforcing strips on all sides of the rim. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 5, of the drawing, in

which 1 designates the bottom or body portion of the mat, 2 the upturned edges thereof which form the flexible sections of the rim, 3 the rigid strips attached to the flexible rim sections 2 and 5 the flexible handles of the mat. As regards general detail, the construction of the different parts of said modified form of mat is the same as the construction of corresponding parts as shown in Figs. 1 to 4: and will be readily understood without a further description thereof. As stated, said rigid strips 3 attached to the different sides of the rim of the mat each consists of a single piece and, to permit the bottom or body portion 1 of the mat to sag when said mat is raised, to form a relatively deep vessel into which the contents of the mat will settle, said strips are preferably made somewhat shorter than the sides of the rim to which they are attached, respectively, say from 1:} to 2 inches at each end thereof. Preferably, also, the flexible handles 5 will comprise such handles attached to the corners or angles of the mat.

I claim 1. A bath mat of flexible impervious material the edges of which are turned up and connected at the corners to form an upstanding rim around said mat, rigid strips attached to the edges of said upstanding rim, and flexible handles which connect different sides of said rim, said rigid strips being Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents constructed and arranged to permit said mat to sag under the weight of water contained therein when raised by its handles, substantially as described.

2. A bath mat, comprising a flexible, impervious body portion, the edges of which are upturned and connected at the corners of said mat to form an upstanding rim around said mat, rigid strips attached to the sides of said rim comprising strips at opposite sides thereof made in separate sections, whereby the sides of the rim to which said sectional strips are attached may fold inwardly and thus permit the body portion of the mat to sag, and flexible handles connected to and which connect different sides of the mat, substantially as described.

3. A bath mat comprising a flexible, impervious body portion the edges of which are upturned and connected at the corners or angles of said mat to form an upstanding rim around said mat and rigid strips attached to the sides of said rim comprising strips atopposite sides thereof made in Sep arate sections, flexible handles connected to and which connect different sides of the mat rim and comprising handles connected adj acent to the middles of the sides of the rim which comprise a plurality of rigid sections, substantially as described.

at. A bath mat of flexible impervious material the edges of which are turned up to form an upstanding rim around said mat, rigid strips attached to the edges of said upstanding rim, and flexible handles which connect different sides of said rim, said rigid strips being constructed and arranged to permit said mat to sag under the weight of water contained therein when raised by its handles.

5. A bath mat, comprising a flexible impervious body portion, the edges of which are upturned to form an upstanding rim around said mat, rigid strips attached to the sides of said rim comprising strips at opposite sides thereof made in separate sections, whereby the sides of the rim to which said sectional strips are attached may fold in wardly and thus permit the body portion of the mat to sag, and flexible handles connected to and which connect different-sides of the mat.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of April, A. D. 1910.

WILLARD E. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

M. Fnrr'rnn, R. R. BITTER.

each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

